Thursday, October 27, 2011

Stone Roses making movie of reunion

Shane Meadows has been lined up to film the band's progress as they prepare for their eagerly-awaited comeback shows next summer. The acclaimed director was at the quartet's press conference last week, as they announced their new shows. And a newspaper today reports that industry sources have confirmed the commission, although the band have said a decision is due in the next five weeks. Sheffield-born Shane shot to fame in 2006 with his Bafta-winning film about a group of skinheads in 1980s England. Ian Brown, John Squire, Gary 'Mani' Mounfield and Alan 'Reni' Wren officially announced their comeback last Tuesday, although The Sun had revealed their intentions back in April.
Gritty ... scene from This Is England
And frontman Ian made no secret about the scale of their ambitions now that they're back.
He said: "Our plan is to shake up the world. We're gonna go around the world next year.
"We're going to start off in Manchester and play two big gigs. This is not a trip down memory lane, we are doing new songs. In the frame ... director Shane Meadows
"We are going to do what we did the first time and ride it 'til the wheels come off. And let's face it, the wheels did come off.
"We'll keep writing and if it hits our standards, we'll go with it. We're not here to destroy anything. It's as precious to us as it is to someone who has followed us for years.
"I've heard a few people say, 'You shouldn't do it, you're going to destroy the legacy'. But that's not our intention."
Guitarist John described how the reunion came about.
He said: "When me and Ian met by chance it changed everything. In some ways it felt like 15 years ago was yesterday. I just couldn't see a comeback happening and I resented the fact that people were trying to force it on me.
"Everything changed when me and Ian started seeing each other again.
"It was surreal. We went from crying, laughing about the old days, to writing songs in a heartbeat. In some ways it's a friendship that defines us both ? and it needed fixing."
The 222,000 tickets for the group's three shows at the end of June at Manchester's Heaton Park sold out within 14 minutes of going on sale.